Flash light



Nov. 25, 1924. 1,516,768

E. H. FINDLAY FLASH LIGHT Filed April 17. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l j g f 6 T7 r- 0 w 4' a? i 3/ J0 4 H5 A l a I Y l l\ .97 VII! I v ,4 7 a C 5 "il l/ n 32 a? 77 2? Warsaw Zlwuenfoz Nov. 25, 1924- 1,516,768

E. H. FINDLAY FLASH LIGHT Filed ril 17, 1923 2 She ts-$hee1 E a 6! #Z 4/, W 2 20 422 I a M" 49 5. /9 (9 -III1 Z 1? 770 [a gin-undo;

. ZMMZ Patented Nov, 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES EDWARD H. I INDIJAY, OF FAIBFIELD, IOWA.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed April 17, 1923.. Serial No. 632,649.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, EDWARD H. FINDLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Flash Lights, of which the following is a specification.

In carrying out the-present invention, it

. is my purpose to provide a flashlight,'wherea .in the bodyportion of the same is rovided with a generator of relatively sma dimensions, together with means for operating the generator, whereby electricity will be en erated for the usual electric lamp of the I ash light, thereby doing away with the necessity of providing the usual dry cell batteries, which must needs be changed from time to time.

A further purpose of this invention is the provision of a flash light, wherein the main ody portion thereof is provided with a generator, as well as an. operating means thereof, of a comparatively. simple construction, and of such a nature as to embrace the desired features of efliciency-and durability.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better-understood when thefollowing detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed,

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate therein, as well as an opening within similar parts in the several views, and wherein p Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a flashlight constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fi re 2 is a detail longitudinal cross sectiona view thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail cross sec tions, taken substantially upon the lines 4-4, 5-5, 66, 7+7, respectively, of Figure 1, and

Fi re 8 is a perspective of the actuating mem er for the clutch comprised in this invention. r 7

Referring to the drawings. in detail, 5 designates a cylindrical casing, upon the front end of whichis secured a reflector 6 of conventional type, which carriesthe usual lens 7. Within the front end of the said casing 5 and extending through an opening reflector is-a lamp bulb socket designated a generally by the numeral 8, and within which is the usual electric lamp 9. Within the casing 5, and adjacent the front end thereof is a generator 10, which is of relatively smaller dimensions, and embodies the usual shell 11, armature 12, and shaft. 13. T1118 generator is secured within the casing by set screws or other appropriate fastening means 14. Rearwardly of the generator 5 is a flanged disk or plate 15, secured within the casing 5 by set screws-16, it being of course obvious that this plate or disk is provided with a central opening for permitting of a passage of the armature shaft 13 there through. Pivoted at 17 to this disk or plate, and at a oint beneath the armature shaft 13 is a pair of arms 18, the same extending upwardly, and engaging through an opening in, said casing 5. Each of these arms 18 is formed with a notch 19, adjacent the armature shaft 13, and it willof course be wardly extending fingers 20. Slidable between these guidefianges and beneath the said fingers 20 is a plate 21 of slightly arcuateshape, and formed upon its bottom face with a relatively wide channel 22, the side edges of which converge inwardly towards the end of the plate for obviously effecting a movement of the arms 18 towards eac other, when the said plate is moved forwardly. Forwardly of this plate 21, the casing 5 is provided with an abutment 23, for limiting the sliding movement of the plate in this direction.

Extending partially within the opposite end of the casing 5 is a vspring barrel 24, the end of the barrel within the casing being open, and having engagement with a disk or plate 25, that is secured as at 26 within the casing 5. The plate or disk 25 is formed with a central opening, within which is the open end of a relatively elongated thimble '27, which extends rearwardly within the barrel 24, the len h of the same being sub! barrel;

Extending longitudinally within the thimble 27 is the reduced end 28 of the arma-v ture shaft, loose upon which is a spur gear 29, this gear being rigidly connected to the said thiinble 27. The opposite end of this shaft extends through a central opening in the end wall of the barrel 24, and is equipped with a speed governor 30.

Within the barrel 24 is a band spring 31, one end thereof being riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the said thimble 27, while the opposite end is secured in a like manner to the barrel Upon the end wall of the barrel 24 is a ratchet plate 32, the peripheral edge of which provides ratchet teeth 33, Figure 6, l't-igidl connected to the end of the casing 5 is a s eeve or collar 34, the end of the same adjacent the ratchet disk being formed,with inwardly bent spring fingers 35, which en age the said teeth 33 of the ratchet disk for preventing the unwinding of the spring.

Freely rotatable upon the end of the casing 5, within which is the spring barrel 24 is the reduced end of a collar 34 attached to the end of the casing 5, it being noted that between the adjacent ends of the collars 34 and 36, respectively, there is positioned a skirt portion of an end cap 37. The collar 36 is secured to the said end portion of the skirt ca through the medium of set screws or the ike 38 while the spring barrel 24, ratchet disk 32, and end cap 37 are rigidly secured together by bolt connections 39. Between the flanged disk that is secured at 16 within said casing 5, and the end plate of the spring barrel 24 is a plate or disk 40, that is also secured within the casing, through the medium of set screws, or other appropriate fastening means.

This member is provided with a central opening, through which extends a reduced end of the armature shaft 13, there being keyed upon this shaft forwardly of the gear 29 a small spur gear 41. This gear is inter meshed with a pair of relatively larger gears 42, upon opposite sides thereof, the same being journaled between the disk 40 and plate 25 of the spring barrel 24. Each of these gears 42 have formed upon one face thereof a relatively smaller gear 43, in mesh with the gear 29 upon the end of the shaft 28.

In-view of the above description, it will at once be apparent that when the arms 18 are contracted upon the armature shaft 13, the spring 31 may be wound by a rotation of the collar 36 and cap 37. By sliding the plate 21 forwardly, the armature shaft will be released, which will permit the unwinding of the spring 31, for conse uently rotating the thimble 27 within the p ate or disk 25, for consequently effecting a rotation of the armature through the several gears, thereby generating current for the electric lamp 9.

Althou h I have herein shown and described t e preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

A flashlight comprising a casing, an electric generator located therein, a spring motor housed within the casing, transmis sion means connected with the shafts of the motor and the generator, an automatic governor carried'by the shaft of the motor, brake arms pivotally mounted within the casing and disposed transversely of the shaft of the generator and positioned one at each side of the shaft of the generator and having end portions extending through the side of the casing, and a plate slidably mounted upon the casin and having a channel with converging wa ls which receive the ends of the arms between them.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

EDWARD H. FINDLAY. 

